Syracuse University College of Law: Rankings, Academics, and Admissions

Syracuse University College of Law, established in 1895, is a private law school located in Syracuse, New York. As one of four law schools in upstate New York, it holds the distinction of being a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools and was accredited by the American Bar Association in 1923. The College of Law is located in Dineen Hall on the West Campus expansion area of Syracuse University. On November 5, 2010, the university and the College of Law announced and dedicated the construction of a new law school complex, named Dineen Hall. SU Architecture alumnus Richard Gluckman, of the Gluckman Mayner Architects in New York City, was the lead architect. Its library is a congressionally designated depository for Federal materials and houses a collection of Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson's papers.

Syracuse Law School is renowned for its commitment to cultivating outstanding legal professionals. Key aspects like the Syracuse Law School ranking and its acceptance rate are essential for prospective students to understand its standing and competitiveness in the legal education landscape. Dineen Hall has been purposefully designed as a modern facility to cater to evolving demands within legal education and the legal industry.

Academics at Syracuse Law

Syracuse's College of Law is a leader in the emerging field of National Security law through the Institute for Security Policy and Law. The College of Law is home to the New York State Science & Technology Law Center. It maintains a chapter of the Order of the Coif law honor society, of which only 86 of the more than 204 ABA-accredited law schools are a member. The school began operating in September 1895. William Henry Hornblower, a Presbyterian minister, gave the opening address at the initiatory session of the new Syracuse Law school. It was admitted to the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity in 1898. Classes were held in various downtown area facilities until a move to the E.I. White Hall.

The college offers 11 joint degree programs with, among others, Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Newhouse School of Public Communications, Whitman School of Management and others. Syracuse Law also offers a joint J.D./LL.M. in Advocacy and Litigation, allowing full-time, on-campus J.D. students to earn both their J.D. and LL.M.

Syracuse has received the highest award that the American College of Trial Lawyers gives to law schools based on the school's trial advocacy record and the strength of the school's trial training programs. The college of Law has operated the Criminal Defense Clinic since 1971.

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Syracuse Law School, recognized for its Syracuse Law School rank, offers a diverse range of programs tailored to meet the evolving needs of the legal profession. During their second year of law school, residential J.D. students can seek admission to specialized programs offered at the College of Law. These programs concentrate on a particular area of law and mandate that students complete a minimum number of credits in that field, encompassing courses with written assignments, practical learning experiences, interdisciplinary classes, and a culminating project. Both residential and online J.D. students can earn a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree, which offers foreign lawyers the chance to learn about U.S. laws and the American legal process. The academic and faculty advisers will help you choose courses and opportunities that align with your goals. You can finish the LL.M. in one academic year by enrolling in courses full-time. Residential J.D. students at Syracuse University can get a master’s degree or Ph.D. in different popular fields from other well-known schools and colleges while doing their J.D. degree.

Rankings and Recognition

When evaluating law schools, the Syracuse University Law School ranking stands out for its notable achievements in legal education. The institution proudly ranks at No. 122 among the Best Law Schools, a testament to its comprehensive curriculum and commitment to academic excellence. The school is well-known for its expertise in certain areas of legal study. It is ranked 15th in Trial Advocacy, showing that it has a strong program that teaches students practical courtroom skills. It is also ranked 42nd in Legal Writing, emphasizing developing strong writing abilities in its students.

Syracuse Law is named a “Best Law School” in The Princeton Review Law School listing for 2024.

Syracuse University College of Law has an online law degree program called JDinteractive (JDi) and a regular JD program. JDi is taught by the College of Law faculty to the same high standards as the regular JD program. It is accredited by the ABA and designed for students who want a flexible but high-quality legal education.

Experiential Learning

Part of this experiential learning includes six in-house clinics that expose students to different types of law to help them find their niche:

Bankruptcy Clinic
Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic
Criminal Defense Clinic
Disability Rights Clinic
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
Transactional Law Clinic

Syracuse is also well-known for its pro bono program that lets students gain experience working on public interest work that serves the community.

Admissions at Syracuse Law

The Syracuse University Law School acceptance rate stands at 41.7%, which clearly indicates the school’s selectivity and reflects its Syracuse Law School ranking. This rate reflects a balance between competitiveness and accessibility, suggesting that while the school maintains high standards, it remains within reach for many applicants. As you start your legal journey, it’s essential to consider the Syracuse Law School ranking as a marker of the quality and competitiveness of the program.

For law school applicants interested in the 2024 admissions cycle at Syracuse Law School, 2368 candidates submitted JD applications and 923 received acceptance letters. This means that of the 923 applicants who received law school acceptance letters, 236 chose to enroll. For a competitive law school application to Syracuse Law School, students should aim to meet or exceed the median statistics shown below.

Application Requirements

When applying to Syracuse Law School, it’s important to adhere to the specific law school requirements.

LSAT/GRE: You must also write the LSAT or GRE to apply to Syracuse Law School. Regardless of which exam you choose, ensure you build a comprehensive study schedule to adequately prepare for your exam. The majority of students choose to write the LSAT.

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- LSAT: Aim to take the LSAT by February for timely processing. Scores should not be older than five years. If you take a future test, your application will be on hold until the score arrives. Recent admits to Syracuse Law School had a median LSAT score of 158, which is what you should aim for. For the Syracuse Law School LSAT, it’s essential you give yourself enough time to retake the test if your first score is too low to be considered competitive. The range of LSAT scores falls between the 25th and 75th percentiles, which is 154 to 160. This range helps applicants gauge where they stand in comparison to other applicants. Additionally, the Syracuse Law median LSAT score stands at 157.
- GRE: Take the GRE by May 15th of your enrollment year. Include all scores from the past five years and submit a full GRE score report.
Transcripts: The first step of the application process is to complete an undergraduate degree at an accredited university. For students interested in fast-tracking, Syracuse has a 3+3 program that allows you to join Syracuse after the third year of your undergrad. Syracuse has no preference over the major you pursue. However, they appreciate when students’ transcripts show that they could excel in particularly difficult courses or substantially improve their academics. The median GPA of the most recent matriculants was 3.62. To ensure you’re able to meet these standards, you should choose a major you find interesting! Try to take diverse electives to broaden and hone the skills you’ll need to excel in law school, including:
- Critical thinking
- Analytical thinking
- Persuasive writing
- Communication
- Public speaking
- Research
Consider joining your pre-law society during your undergrad to begin building your resume and gaining essential work or volunteer experience. This can help you stand out as an applicant. Prospective students typically have GPAs ranging from 3.22 to 3.74, with the median for all program entrants being 3.56.
Letters of Recommendation: Syracuse requires applicants to submit two letters of recommendation as part of their applications. To ensure your letters of recommendation persuade the admissions committee of your candidacy for law school, they should be written by professors. It’s essential you build strong connections with your professors throughout your undergrad so they can write highly personalized letters that paint you as an extraordinary student! If you’ve been out of school for several years and aren’t able to obtain letters from your professors, letters from employers will suffice. Obtain 2-4 letters, preferably from professors or professionals who can attest to your potential in legal studies.
Resume: Your resume should summarize your education, work experience, skills, and any achievements or activities relevant to law school.
Personal Statement: The law school personal statement is your chance to tell your story, explaining who you are and why you’re drawn to a legal career. It should highlight your motivations, key life experiences, and how they’ve shaped your decision to pursue law. Your grades and professors’ comments on your academic abilities only tell the admissions committee how well you can perform on exams or in courses. A Personal Statement is your chance to show them your soft skills!
Optional Addenda: Optional addenda allows you to provide additional context or explanations for aspects of your application.
Why JDi Statement: The Why JDi Statement is specifically for applicants to the JD Interactive program. In this statement, explain your reasons for choosing the JDi program over a traditional law degree path.

Part of successfully applying to Syracuse involves keeping track of key deadlines to ensure your application isn’t delayed! Students are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible to receive their decisions quickly. The Syracuse University College of Law has an application deadline of Aug. 1. The full-time program application fee at the College of Law at Syracuse University is $75.

Tuition and Expenses

To best prepare for a law degree at Syracuse, you should also create a budget to know just how much of an investment your legal education will be. Students can expect to pay $62,220 a year for tuition and fees at this law school. Syracuse Law School tuition is $59,880. Law school tuition at Syracuse Law School is $124k annually (calculated from semester costs).

Syracuse offers merit-based law school scholarships during the admission process to both domestic and international students, contingent on maintaining good academic standing. For further assistance, eligible students can access Federal Student Aid, including law school loans, and work-study programs, and veterans or dependents of veterans may benefit from VA Benefits.

Bar Passage Rates

Passing the bar is the last part of your legal journey before you can practice law independently. The College of Law New York Bar Exam Pass Rate is Highest in Decades. Syracuse also demonstrates its excellence with a remarkable bar passage rate of 91% for 2020. For JD graduates from Syracuse Law School, the first-time bar exam pass rate is 74.59%.

Career Prospects

After completing their JD program at Syracuse Law School, graduates entering private law firms earn a median starting salary of $100,000. JD graduates pursuing public sector legal careers start at approximately $70,000. Additionally, 6.4% of graduates obtain prestigious judicial clerkships, and 8.4% pursue public interest law careers.

Online Law School Option

If, for any reason, you are unable to attend law school in person, Syracuse Law School offers a program called JDinteractive. This is a fully interactive, ABA-approved law program that operates completely online. This online option is a great opportunity for aspiring law students with prior work or family commitments. It offers a mix of live, online sessions and self-paced learning. “Our JDinteractive program attracts established professionals seeking the flexibility of an online J.D. JDinteractive was listed by The Princeton Review as one of the Best Online J.D. Programs in 2024.

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